Thursday, March 03, 2005
MAR.3, EVENT REVIEW: Planned Parenthood Food Fare 2005
PPLA's Famous Food Fare Delivers Once Again, Tantalizing Tinseltown Tastebuds
by Don Rose
(Santa Monica CA: March 3, 2005) More than 150 of Los Angeles' best restaurants, caterers, wineries, florists, and entertainers gathered at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles' (PPLA's) always-popular Food Fare, one of the agency's largest annual fundraisers. Started in 1979, Food Fare has become the oldest and one of the most recognized food events in L.A. FF'05 enabled restaurant enthusiasts, Planned Parenthood supporters and the general public to sample the finest food and drink that L.A. has to offer, all in one place. Among the hundreds who attended were celebs such as director John Landis ("Animal House", "Blues Brothers") and former-DA-now-hot-photog Gil Garcetti.
Restaurant critic, author, and radio host Merrill Shindler has said that "...for sheer culinary pleasure, there's nothing like the Planned Parenthood Food Fare -- a tribute to the tasty culinary diversity of LA!" And the Food Dude is, as always, correct. Some of this reporter's faves included perennial participant Pink's (with several varieties of Hot Dogs, and even Ms. Pink there herself, wearing -- what else -- a pink jacket)... The Republic of Tea (among the best ice tea in a bottle I have ever tasted -- I especially love their Peach -- healthy, crisp taste)... Dandy Don's delectable ice cream... Daily Grill's excellent Caesar Salad and Peach Cobbler... and James Beach's French Toast (I assume that wacky Freedom Toast name phase has passed by now, so I can go by the real name without fear of being Bushwhacked? Good...... -- actually, this restaurant's "Coast Toast" is made with two-inch thick California sourdough bread smothered in pure maple syrup, so popular it ran out). One of the nice features of PPLA's Food Fare is that, James Beach notwithstanding, the food and drink rarely runs out before the event ends, something not every food fest can claim.
In addition to offering great cuisine, Food Fare featured a silent auction with arts and crafts, vacation packages, sporting and entertainment event tickets, fine art from local artists, and gift certificates from L.A.’s best restaurants. Plus, as they do every year, PPLA provided a booth with useful literature, cute bumperstickers ("Don't Just Do It", one implores) and free condoms for all.
Food Fare raises funds to support PPLA’s health care services, responsible sex education, and advocacy programs. Last year’s Food Fare drew more than 1,600 people and raised $500,000 for the agency. Food Fare is produced by the Planned Parenthood Los Angeles Guild, a group of 200 women who are dedicated to providing financial and volunteer support for PPLA. Since the group’s inception more than 20 years ago, the Guild has raised over $5 million for PPLA.
About Planned Parenthood Los Angeles
PPLA is the largest provider of reproductive health care services in Los Angeles County. It provides clinical services to more than 61,000 people a year, 87% of whom come to the agency for birth control and 97% of whom require some financial assistance for their care. PPLA outreach programs deliver sexuality and family planning education to nearly 115,000 teens, women and men a year. Through the Planned Parenthood Los Angeles County Advocacy Project, the agency is also a leading advocate for reproductive rights.
To get a jump on next year's tickets, see www.pplosangeles.org or call 310-395-0098.
by Don Rose
(Santa Monica CA: March 3, 2005) More than 150 of Los Angeles' best restaurants, caterers, wineries, florists, and entertainers gathered at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles' (PPLA's) always-popular Food Fare, one of the agency's largest annual fundraisers. Started in 1979, Food Fare has become the oldest and one of the most recognized food events in L.A. FF'05 enabled restaurant enthusiasts, Planned Parenthood supporters and the general public to sample the finest food and drink that L.A. has to offer, all in one place. Among the hundreds who attended were celebs such as director John Landis ("Animal House", "Blues Brothers") and former-DA-now-hot-photog Gil Garcetti.
Restaurant critic, author, and radio host Merrill Shindler has said that "...for sheer culinary pleasure, there's nothing like the Planned Parenthood Food Fare -- a tribute to the tasty culinary diversity of LA!" And the Food Dude is, as always, correct. Some of this reporter's faves included perennial participant Pink's (with several varieties of Hot Dogs, and even Ms. Pink there herself, wearing -- what else -- a pink jacket)... The Republic of Tea (among the best ice tea in a bottle I have ever tasted -- I especially love their Peach -- healthy, crisp taste)... Dandy Don's delectable ice cream... Daily Grill's excellent Caesar Salad and Peach Cobbler... and James Beach's French Toast (I assume that wacky Freedom Toast name phase has passed by now, so I can go by the real name without fear of being Bushwhacked? Good...... -- actually, this restaurant's "Coast Toast" is made with two-inch thick California sourdough bread smothered in pure maple syrup, so popular it ran out). One of the nice features of PPLA's Food Fare is that, James Beach notwithstanding, the food and drink rarely runs out before the event ends, something not every food fest can claim.
In addition to offering great cuisine, Food Fare featured a silent auction with arts and crafts, vacation packages, sporting and entertainment event tickets, fine art from local artists, and gift certificates from L.A.’s best restaurants. Plus, as they do every year, PPLA provided a booth with useful literature, cute bumperstickers ("Don't Just Do It", one implores) and free condoms for all.
Food Fare raises funds to support PPLA’s health care services, responsible sex education, and advocacy programs. Last year’s Food Fare drew more than 1,600 people and raised $500,000 for the agency. Food Fare is produced by the Planned Parenthood Los Angeles Guild, a group of 200 women who are dedicated to providing financial and volunteer support for PPLA. Since the group’s inception more than 20 years ago, the Guild has raised over $5 million for PPLA.
About Planned Parenthood Los Angeles
PPLA is the largest provider of reproductive health care services in Los Angeles County. It provides clinical services to more than 61,000 people a year, 87% of whom come to the agency for birth control and 97% of whom require some financial assistance for their care. PPLA outreach programs deliver sexuality and family planning education to nearly 115,000 teens, women and men a year. Through the Planned Parenthood Los Angeles County Advocacy Project, the agency is also a leading advocate for reproductive rights.
To get a jump on next year's tickets, see www.pplosangeles.org or call 310-395-0098.
